Welcome to this weeks selection of Picks, where we want to state for the record that the word Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwilllantysiliogoggoch is neither a product of the Psychotic Eye Chart Manufacturers Association (PECMA) nor a poem by Lewis Carroll. It is, however, the village with the longest name in Britain, located in North Wales. If you travel to Llanfairpw -- oh, whatever -- you'll be able to visit, among other attractions, a zoo and a railway station. Of course, the highlight of the town is the actual saying of the name. (We tried it ourselves, but coughed up a Tamagotchi instead. Oh, secret shame.) So go check it out. It's one mouthful of a good time.
If the Japanese word for apple is "ringo," it makes sense that Ringo Starr advertises apple juice in Japan. Right? Given this logic, what are the implications of Sylvester Stallone peddling ham? Probably none, but we thought we'd ask anyway. See, we've been browsing through Sold Out!, a gallery of Japanese advertisements featuring some of our favorite celebrities moonlighting overseas, selling everything from shoes to cigarettes to--well, again, ham. Carl Lewis, Madonna, Jodie Foster; you'll recognize quite a few faces here. But actually, it makes sense; who among us, when they hear the name Dennis Hopper, does not immediately think of Japanese bath salts? Thought so.
Before the Web took over as the main repository for highly questionable ideas, most of the nonsense in the world existed tangibly rather than virtually. Lucky for us, Peter Gilstrap took it upon himself to collect a large percentage of this aforementioned nonsense, and It Crawled From the Bins is the charming result. Each week, the site offers a glimpse into Peter's stash of "oddball records" by featuring cover art and commentary on such notable fiascos as Dueling Bongos and Charlie the Hamster Sings the Ten Commandments. There are already more than 60 albums to peruse on Gilstrap's site, and if his supply holds up, we'll be looking to Pete for our weekly fix of 33 rpm insanity for many months to come.
If a bicyclist leaves New York City at 8 pm travelling due west at 25 mph and another leaves at 9 pm travelling due north, how long is it before their apartments are broken into? We have no idea, but if this sort of question keeps you awake at night, stop by The Science of Cycling, the latest offering in the Exploratorium's sports science series. Just as The Science of Hockey explored the dynamics of the ice rink, this site looks at the physics behind cycling. Read about the evolution of the bicycle, learn why it is the most efficient mode of travel, and get the low down on frames, brakes, tires, and gears. Through interviews with professional cyclists and bicycle designers, as well as charts, pictures, video clips, and audio, the common bicycle is revealed as a truly sophisticated machine. (By the way, crime is way down in NYC.)
Bored with biking? Tired of tennis? Sour on soccer or phlegmatic about phootball? Then maybe it's time for a little, oh, shall we say, ROBOT WARS! Coming August 15-17 to San Francisco (long known to natives as "The Capital of Robots"), Robot Wars is a "mechanical sporting event that features radio-controlled and autonomous robots in a contest of destruction and survival." Not only is this the very definition of the word "bitchin'", it affords you an opportunity to view pictures, watch a live webcast, and link up with contestant pages. (Killborg, we think you're dreamy.) So browse, explore, enjoy, and luxuriate in this battle of the soulless automatons. You'll be glad you did!
On a quieter note, have you ever wondered how to deploy the landing gear on a P-40 War Hawk? Ever puzzle over the maximum allowable manifold pressure for the P-38 Corsair? If so, then fire up RealPlayer 4.0 and pull on up to Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In. There you'll find informational films on all manner of World War II aircraft. Our favorite moment is when the normally strait-laced narrator, describing how to lower the flaps on the P-40, cuts up by adding, "Don't get mixed up and pull the gun trigger by mistake." Or maybe he was serious? Well, we won the war. All's well that ends well.
Let's face it, the Himalayas are truly breathtaking. No, we mean it. You CANNOT BREATHE up there. And equally breathtaking is Himalayas - Where Earth Meets Sky. Designed as a project for ThinkQuest, an annual contest that challenges students to use the Internet as a teaching and learning tool, it aims to be the most comprehensive site available on the world's tallest mountain range. (The name, we are told, is derived from the Sanskrit "hima" meaning "snow" and "alaya" meaning "abode.") A discussion of the geology, politics, environment, and tourism is accompanied by maps, pictures, and a "traveler's corner" for stories and feedback. Once you're done surfing the site, head over to the quiz to see what you've learned.
Finally, we suggest y'all mosey on down to the Southern Music Network, a look at Southern music in the 20th Century. The site offers an impressive decade by decade exploration of the musical genre, accompanied by pictures and pertinent links. From 1899, when Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" was the first Ragtime composition to become a sheet music best-seller, to 1997's Squirrel Nut Zippers explosion, there's a little bit of everything here. You'll also find a collection of news articles, links to related books, and featured artists. Yup, they're not just whistlin' Dixie. No, wait. They are.
Hey, look, it's either that or take a tour of Tinseltown's Secret Sites, courtesy of the folks at E! Online. Sure, a $5 map of the stars' homes will keep you busy awhile, but this new guide to "Hidden Hollywood" will, among other things, point you to Hugh Grant's "place of infamy," Marilyn Monroe's house, and the Burbank Animal Shelter, which was once home to everyone's favorite dawg, Benji. Which leaves us, then, with one last thought: Have your people call our people, we'll do Picks.
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